Friday, April 30, 2010

Gor Mahia Coach Kicked Out

A power struggle in the Gor Mahia technical bench has claimed head coach Gideon Ochieng’.

The coach was fired on Wednesday and although the official word was that he has not performed according to expectations, other sources said it was because of a poor working relationship with Technical Director, Zedekiah Otieno.

Gideon Ochieng’ during a KPL match at the Nairobi City Stadium

Otieno now takes over both responsibilities as the club looks for another coach.

Ochieng’ received his marching orders on Wednesday and the club’s Deputy Secretary General, Ronald Ngala, said he had failed in his probation.

"He was on probation from February, but on review, the National Executive Committee (NEC) felt he did not perform well. We asked him to leave after that," said Ngala.

But when reminded that the club has performed well under Ochieng’, Ngala said the issue was beyond him as he was just stating the club’s position.

"This is what the committee felt and decided," said Ngala. But the club’s Organising secretary, Tom Ataro, alluded to power struggle between the former coach the Technical Director.

"There have been problems and it came to our attention last week. We met and voted on the way forward. Majority of the officials said Ochieng’ should

go, but we instructed the technical committee to call both of them and resolve their problems," he said. Gor’s technical advisor Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno. Photos: Stafford Ondego/Standard

"I am surprised to hear that he has been given a letter by the secretariat to leave. I have talked to the players and some of them are not happy," said Ataro.

He claimed Ochieng’ has become unpopular with some of the players in the team as he was planning to lay off some of them for non-performance.

Contacted, the coach confirmed having received a letter asking him to step aside, but revealed he saw it coming.

"I was not surprised. I had seen it coming especially after the club announced that they are advertising for a coach," he explained.

Ochieng’ said he decided to leave so as not to jeopardise the club’s performance.

"I am grateful for what Gor has done for me. This is the club that built my career and wouldn’t want to spoil what we achieved in the last six months,"

he said.

He, however, is not happy that the club did not give him any reason for asking him to leave and denied there was a problem between him and the current coach